19th-century school set for 21st century

METRO: Solomon Johnson, 17, a member of the Healy Murphy Center performing arts group Malarky sings during a dedication ceremony for the center's new buildings on Friday March 2, 2012. Helen L. Montoya/San Antonio Express-News

METRO: Solomon Johnson, 17, a member of the Healy Murphy Center performing arts group Malarky sings during a dedication ceremony for the center's new buildings on Friday March 2, 2012. Helen L. Montoya/San

METRO: Solomon Johnson, 17, a member of the Healy Murphy Center performing arts group Malarky sings during a dedication ceremony for the center's new buildings on Friday March 2, 2012. Helen L. Montoya/San Antonio Express-News

METRO: Solomon Johnson, 17, a member of the Healy Murphy Center performing arts group Malarky sings during a dedication ceremony for the center's new buildings on Friday March 2, 2012. Helen L. Montoya/San

Healy Murphy Center, an alternative high school on the East Side that served as the first free school for African Americans in Texas, held a rededication Friday to celebrate a recent $4.6 million renovation.

The event took place in a courtyard between three refurbished buildings on the campus, which was established in 1888 by an Irish nun determined to provide education to black students after the Ku Klux Klan frightened away teachers.

“This is an amazing transformation,” Doug Watson, the executive director, told an audience made up of local dignitaries, donors, teachers, parents and students in blue and yellow T-shirts. “We did this renovation because we believe in you (students) and want the best for you.”

The renovation took about a year, Watson said, during which time the school's 160 students crammed into hallways.

Councilwoman Ivy Taylor said the school's refurbishing was just one more spark in a general rejuvenation taking place in her district.

“This place is the gateway to the East Side,” she said. “Folks at Healy Murphy have seen the potential in the students and have invested in them.”

Claver, a Jesuit priest who died in 1654, became the patron saint of slaves and African Americans.

Murphy also established the Sisters of the Holy Spirit to help run the school.

In 1970, the name was changed to its present one and the focus shifted to helping teens who struggled to succeed in their schools.

Today, the center serves at-risk youths, including pregnant and parenting teens. An additional 24 students are enrolled in the center's GED program and 100 children are cared for in a child care center across the street.

Showers said he was a “troubled child” of 16 until he landed at the center, where his life took a dramatic turn.

“It's a self-paced program,” he said, “and the staff here really gives you a sense of motivation. The teachers are just awesome, and everyone, from the principal to the janitor, develops a personal relationship with the students. They pushed me to discover what I wanted to do with my life.”

Showers, who received a full scholarship to UIW, said he plans to work in the corporate world, earn a master's degree and at some point become a technology entrepreneur.

His mother, Tracy Showers, beamed.

“I'm just overwhelmed with pride,” she said.

Plaques were given to three major donors — the Sisters of the Holy Spirit ($1.5 million), the Ewing Halsell Foundation ($1 million) and Dr. George and Kym Rapier ($1 million).